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FOOTBALL FRIDAY: A capsule look a big local Week 7

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 13, 2023

Nashua North's Jonathan Torres tries to dive ahead while being tackled during last Friday night's game vs. Londonderry at Stellos Stadium. North is at Goffstown tonight. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

Believe it or not, we have hit the seventh week of the high school football season, and there’s still so much to decide. Tonight’s games, especially for teams looking to make playoff headway such as Bishop Guertin, Nashua North, Merrimack and Alvirne, are fairly key.

Here’s a capsule look at the weekend’s local games, six tonight and one on Saturday, two of them all-local:

FRIDAY

DIVISION I

MERRIMACK (2-3, 3-3 Overall) at NASHUA SOUTH (0-5, 0-6 overall)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: Nashua’s Stellos Stadium.

LAST WEEK: Keene 42, Nashua South 0; Merrimack 23, Windham 20

LAST YEAR: Merrimack 27, Nashua South 21.

FYI: The very young Panthers are starving for a win, and now after last week they need to bounce back to be competitive. Merrimack has had their number the last few years, and senior back Garron Brown is leading a resurgence that could grab the ‘Hawks a playoff spot if they keep winning.

PREDICTION: Merrimack 28, Nashua South 12

NASHUA NORTH (3-3) at GOFFSTOWN (1-5)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Goffstown HS.

LAST WEEK: Londonderry 31, Nashua North 7; Winnacunnet 28, Goffstown 14.

LAST YEAR: Nashua North 64, Goffstown 14.

FYI: The Titans are looking to snap a two-game losing streak vs. the iron (Bedford, Londonderry), and are looking to boost the offense. Goffstown has lost five straight, the big blow an injury to starting QB Jay Pares in Week 2 has derailed the Grizzlies. After scoring 33 points on opening night vs. South, they’ve scored 40 points since.

PREDICTION: North 30, Goffstown 7. Titans find their offense.

BISHOP GUERTIN (2-3, 3-3 overall) at KEENE (3-2, 4-2 overall)

WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

WHERE: KHS Alumni Field.

LAST WEEK: Keene 42, Nashua South 0; Pinkerton 56, Bishop Guertin 17

LAST YEAR: Bishop Guertin 49, Keene 19.

FYI: The Mike MacDonough-led Cards need a win after last week’s disappointing showing in Derry, more or less in same boat as Merrimack in terms of trying to get four wins to cement a playoff spot. Keene probably needs just one, and the Blackbirds run a power game, led by back Wyatt Avery (145 yards last week) vs. BG’s air attack. It will be interesting to see which wins out.

PREDICTION: BG 28, Keene 26. Could go either way, Cards do have edge in numbers.

WINNACUNNET (1-4, 1-5 overall) at ALVIRNE (2-3, 3-3)

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: Alvirne HS.

LAST WEEK: Alvirne 19, Concord 12; Winnacunnet 28, Goffstown 14

LAST YEAR: Did not play.

FYI: Before the season started, Alvirne coach Matt Lee told his players making the playoffs should be a realistic goal. If the Broncos, led by back Aidan Mills and QB Shawn Boudreau, win tonight they’d take a big step toward doing that. Winnacunnet had a balanced attack last week at Goffstown (118 yards rushing, 123 passing) so Alvirne’s defense will be tested. The Warriors have 6-5 QB Riley McDaniel, back Syncere Bailey and tight end/defensive end Jacob Magri for Alvirne to worry about.

PREDICTION: Alvirne 20, Winacunnet 16. Broncos keep pushing, but it won’t be easy.

DIVISION II

PELHAM (6-0) at MILFORD (2-4)

WHEN: Tonight, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Milford HS

LAST WEEK: Milford 42, Hollis Brookline 12; Pelham did not play.

LAST YEAR: Pelham 35, Milford 13

FYI: The defending champion Pythons just keep plowing through the season toward what is expected to be a title game return led by running back Dom Herrling. Milford QB Harris Jones and back Cade Cloutier will likely try to slow down the Python attack by ball control; it almost worked a year ago until Pelham pulled away.

PREDICTION: Pelham 40, Milford 21.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE (0-5) at SOUHEGAN (5-0, 5-1

WHEN: 7 p.m.

WHERE: SHS Calvetti Field.

LAST WEEK: Souhegan 41, Hanover 22; Milford 42, Hollis Brookline 12.

LAST YEAR: Souhegan 49, Hollis Brookline 0.

FYI: Tough one for the Cavs, who had their second biggest offensive output of season vs. the Spartans, going by scores. Souhegan’s J.J. Watt is coming off a historic 457 yard rushing night last week at Hanover. However, he won’t get that long, we bet, in this one as the Sabers have their big showdown with Pelham on the road next week and once this one is settled expect coach Robin Bowkett to rest his starters.

PREDICTION: Souhegan 50, Hollis Brookline 6.

SATURDAY

CONVAL (3-3) at CAMPBELL (6-0)

WHEN: 11 a.m.

WHERE: Campbell High School.

LAST WEEK: Campbell 37, Monadnock 6; Kingswood 12, ConVal 8.

LAST YEAR: Campbell 30, ConVal 14.

FYI: Who will the local Cougars play in the first round of the playoffs? It could be ConVal, if it can get to five wins (Stevens, InterLakes to finish after this one). Elliot Featherstone and QB Bradley Brunelle are ConVal keys, along with big play receivers Kendrick Edwards and Kai Reitnauer. That offense was slowed by rain and wet conditions last week, but it should be dry at least the first half of Saturday, so Campbell will be wary.

PREDICTION: Campbell 40, ConVal 18. Visitors could be pesky if they get their offense going.

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